Cat Articles

This article is part of a three-article series. Be Aware, Be Prepared and now feline urethral obstruction prevention. In this article I’ll highlight the things you need to know and the steps you should take to prevent an occurrence (or recurrence) of this condition.

As an aside, if you’ve ever had a cat suffer from a urethral obstruction I’d greatly appreciate it if you would take a few minutes to complete our online survey. It's completely anonymous and only takes a few minutes to complete. Thanks in advance for your time.

And so, without further ado, let's talk about the things you need to know and do to decrease your cat’s risk for urethral obstruction.

As was touched upon in the Be Aware article, there are certain factors or attributes which are known to increase a cat’s risk for developing a urethral obstruction. An expanded list of these risk factors is presented again here, as they are important to consider when developing a plan to decrease your cat’s risk of developing this awful condition.

Male cats are at higher risk than female cats.

Overweight cats are at greater risk than cats of good body condition.

Cats that eat only (or even predominantly) dry food are at greater risk than those that eat exclusively (or predominantly) wet food.

Cats that have previously had a urethral obstruction are at increased risk of obstruction.

Cats with recurrent bouts of bladder inflammation (‘cystitis’) are at increased risk of developing a urethral obstruction.

Cats with a chronic history of mineral crystals in their urine (‘crystaluria’) are at increased risk of a urethral obstruction.

Cats are at increased risk of urethral obstruction during times of stress in their life.

As you may have begun to appreciate from the list above, there are multiple risk factors which you can affect to have some influence over your particular cat’s risk for developing a urethral obstruction. What’s more is that some of the changes you make can have a more far-reaching influence by affecting multiple risk factors. So, while its not possible to guarantee that you’ll never have to deal with a case of urethral obstruction by making the changes I’ll be recommending below, I can certainly say that such changes will greatly decrease the likelihood of your cat ‘blocking’. And honestly, with as debilitating, frustrating, expensive, and potentially fatal as this condition can be… every little bit of prevention really does help!

The Solution to Pollution is Dilution

This is a common phrase in many disciplines, and while it probably isn’t the best attitude to take when dealing with the health of our oceans and environment, it certainly is a great rule to live by when it comes to the health of your cat’s urinary system! In this case, the ‘pollutants’ are both the minerals within your cat’s urine and any ‘inflammatory mediators’ that may be present as well.

As previously discussed, minerals within the urine can coalesce to form crystals, grit, and stones, any of which can lead to a urethral obstruction. As for the inflammatory mediators… they can lead to bladder wall inflammation (cystitis), which itself is another of the risk factors for urethral obstruction.

The more water (moisture) going into your cat, the less concentrated their urine will be (both with minerals and inflammatory mediators) and the more regularly they will urinate and flush out their bladder. This way, even if minerals coalesce to form stones, it won’t matter because they won’t be in your cat when they do!

As you should now be realizing, by improving your cat’s hydration (or at least preventing their dehydration), you can decrease their risk for urethral obstruction.

To improve your cat’s hydration and get more water into them…

Feed canned food: The greater the proportion of your cat’s diet that comes from canned food, the greater the amount of water they will naturally consume on a daily basis. Most canned diets are somewhere in the neighborhood of 75–80% moisture, whereas the dry diets are often 10% or less. So while your cats are eating their necessary daily calories for survival, if they’re eating a canned food, they’ll also be taking in plenty of water. Canned foods convey other health benefits to cats as well, particularly in relation to weight management and the prevention/correction of obesity and diabetes - but that’s a topic for a whole other article! (It should also be noted at this point that, although I am a veterinarian, each cat’s health history and specific dietary needs and restrictions can differ, therefore I would always recommend that you discuss all of the diet decisions and changes that you plan to make for your cat with your veterinarian prior to doing so.)

Have multiple water dishes available throughout the house: The easier it is for your cats to get to clean, fresh drinking water, the more likely they are to drink it. Having water bowls in multiple rooms of the house and on several different levels (if applicable) is a great way to help ensure easy access. Its also a good idea to have bowls of different material (metal, glass, ceramic, etc.), depths, widths, and shapes when possible. Cats are called ‘finicky’ for a reason, and again… its all about making it easy and attractive for them to drink water.

Use a water re-circulator (kitty water fountain): These can be particularly effective for cats that like to drink from faucets or bathtubs. Their biggest ‘knock’ is that some cats like to play in them, and a watery mess can ensue. But such a mess is far easier (and more pleasant) to clean up than the ‘mess’ that urethral obstruction can be.

Flavor your cat’s water: This can be a great way to encourage more water intake in your cats. You can use some low sodium chicken or beef broth (see note below), but probably the most enticing additive is the water from a can of tuna. A simple way to get the most out of the water from a can of tuna is to dilute it with more water, then fill an ice cube tray with the mixture and freeze. (Be sure to label this tray though… few people will want a tuna flavored ice cube in their own drink.) Drop one of these ice cubes in your cat’s water dish at each change and voila… tuna-flavored water!

Please note: If you're going to use broth make sure it doesn't have onions. Onions can cause red blood cell destruction (hemolysis/hemolytic anemia) in significant enough quantities; cats that are already anemic or have fragile red blood cells are more sensitive to this toxic effect. The amount of onion powder in most store bought chicken broths is likely safe for most pets when used sparingly, but to be as safe as possible try to find a broth that doesn’t contain onion or onion powder. If you can’t find a broth with no onion powder or onions added, you can try this easy, onion-free chicken broth recipe from our friends at Trupanion.

They Don't Always Need a Pill to Chill

Stress can be a major contributor to the development of feline urethral obstruction (and a host of other feline medical problems as well). Such stress can come from a change in the weather (cases of urethral obstruction seem to increase in frequency during cold snaps), a new addition to the family (human or otherwise), change in household dynamic (holiday visitors, family traveling, home remodel, and others), or poor litter box management - just to name a few. In many cases, you can take simple steps to minimize your cat’s stress and therefore decrease their risks for developing a urethral obstruction.

Practice good litter box maintenance: The general ‘rule of thumb’ in the veterinary world is to have one more litter box than the number of cats you have (i.e., 3 boxes for 2 cats, and so on). Having the boxes in different rooms, on different levels of the house, and away from high-traffic areas of the home can help too. The frequency with which you will need to scoop and clean the boxes will depend on how fastidious your cats are, but its best to err on the side of caution and scoop daily, and do a full clean regularly. The type of box and litter can have an impact as well, with most cats preferring large, uncovered litter boxes and unscented litters—but every cat is different, so try out several to determine your cat’s preferences. This small investment in time can yield significant benefits.

Cats are NOT party animals: Most cats really don’t like changes in their daily routine, and few things change up that routine quite like the holidays and overnight visitors. When the holidays come, be sure to provide your cats with their own ‘safe room’, complete with a clean litter box (or two), fresh water and food, and some comfy bedding. Keep this room off limits to visitors and your cats will likely weather the holiday storm much better — as will your guests’ coats and other belongings! The ‘safe room’ is something that some cats may need all year through, and many will also need it when introducing a new pet or baby to the family, or when renovations disturb the house.

Don’t forget play time: Though some cats might not seek out play time with you, many would eagerly jump at the chance if offered and it can be a great way to decrease stress—their’s and yours! From laser toys and The Cat Dancer to catnip mice and puzzle toys, cat play isn’t as difficult as you might initially think. And since play time will also help with your cat’s weight control, it has a ‘double benefit’ when it comes to preventing urethral obstructions. SImple petting and occasional brushing can help to decrease their stress as well.

The power of pheromones: Pheromones are compounds that animals naturally secrete to elicit a certain type of response from another member of their species. In the case of cats, calming and anti-anxiety pheromones have been isolated and synthetically reproduced and are available in a product called Comfort Zone (with Feliway). It comes in both spray form and as a plug-in diffuser. It can go a long way towards decreasing stress and anxiety in cats when used appropriately. Such pheromones can also be helpful when introducing new cats or when trying to decrease in-fighting amongst cats within the same household.

Let them have a sleep over: Its not uncommon for cats to get into a whole heap of medical trouble when their owners are away on vacation. In many of these cases, such as with urethral obstruction, these medical problems can turn quickly fatal if not detected and appropriately treated in time. Though many people consider cats ‘low maintenence’ pets that can be left on their own for a long weekend, its really not the best approach. The best bet is to hire a knowledgable, responsible, and capable pet sitter to stay at your house and watch after your animal brood while you’re away on vacation. If you don’t already know of one, speak with the reception staff or nursing staff at your veterinarian’s office… many of them will often do pet sitting on the side, and if they don’t do it themselves, they’ll likely be able to recommend you to someone who does.

Ignorance is NOT Bliss

When it comes to feline urinary problems, including urethral obstruction, what you’re not seeing can truly lead to your cat’s death. Be sure to monitor your cat’s eliminations daily. Note changes in volume and frequency, the occurrence of straining or vocalizing, or the presence of blood. If you are noticing any persistent changes, bring them to your veterinarian for evaluation. Earlier diagnosis and care will not only decrease your cat’s pain and suffering, but it will often save you money (in the long run) too.

Well, this brings us to the end of this blog series on feline urethral obstruction. I hope you’ve picked up some useful information and tips about the prevention of this common, devastating, and frustrating cat emergency. If you have, I hope further that you’ll share it with your cat-owning friends and family to help them keep their cats safe too. The more this information gets around, the better off the cats and cat owners of the world will be.

Also (and I promise this will be the last reminder)… if you’ve ever had any experience with feline urethral obstruction, I’d love to get your feedback on the experience. I created an online survey which takes only a few minutes to complete. I’ll post results for all to see. Again, thank you in advance for your time and for helping me help others.

Please do not ask emergency or other specific medical questions about your pets in the blog comments. As an online informational resource, Preventive Vet is unable to and does not provide specific medical advice or counseling. A thorough physical exam, patient history, and an established veterinary-patient-client relationship is required to provide specific medical advice. If you are worried that your pet is having an emergency or if you have specific medical questions related to your pet’s current or chronic medical conditions, please contact or visit your veterinarian, an animal-specific poison control hotline, or your local emergency veterinary care center.

Please share your experiences and stories, your opinions and feedback about this blog, or what you've learned that you'd like to share with others.

Conda Gree

Our 6 year old mail cat, Shadow is in the vet clinic for the second night. On Saturday we noticed he was trying to pee and nothing was coming out. Called our vet, he had us pick up some RX for infection on Sunday morning. Not any better Monday morning so took him to vet. They "unblocked" him right away, but he still cannot pee on his own, and blood tests show some number being 19, which it should only be a six. (I wasn't' there when the test was ran and my husband doesn't remember what tests the vet did). Will see how he is in the morning. Keep hoping and praying his kidneys start working on their own. Are we doing the right thing by waiting to see if he gets better?

Dr. J

Hi Conda - You're giving Shadow a chance, which is great. Hopefully the IV fluid push, medications, and time will allow his kidneys to recover and be what he needs to start urinating normally again. We wish you and Shadow the best of luck and hope that he's already well on the road to recovery! All the best.

Cathy Smith

What can I do to relieve my cat from this he can't utinate

Dr. J

Cathy, only a veterinarian can safely and effectively relieve a cat's urethral obstruction. I hope you were able to bring your cat in for the care he needed.
Best,
Dr. J

Lisa

Hello, I tried to take your survey but when I clicked on the link I just got a "thank you for taking the survey" No opportunity to actual fill out the survey.

Lisa,
Sorry about the technical issue you experienced. We were unable to replicate it, but it sounds like it may be a cookie issue. A few options you can try are clearing your browser's history and cookies, or try from a different browser or computer/device.
Thank you for your interest in our survey - the data is very helpful for us!
-Stacy

William Vandegrift

My 6 year old male cat has been sick for a few days and I couldn't figure out what to do as I have literally no money to spend on a vet. Tonight he looked to me as if he were dying so I took out a line of credit and rushed him to a vet hospital. They are currently working on removing a urinary blockage, but have informed me that his kidney levels and potassium levels are off the charts. I am terrified that he will die within the night and ashamed that I waited days to think about the line of credit to have him properly taken care of. They have told me I am to expect a bill of about $1500-2500 if the only thing wrong is one blockage and the removal does not have complications.

We’re so saddened to hear this. We hope your little guy made it through the night and will pull through. You’re doing a lot to help him. Our thoughts are with you.
–Anne

Rylin Hansen

You recommend chicken broth - I am wondering about that, because I had a female cat once who had trouble with overly concentrated urine and not drinking water. The vet recommended broth, but I could not find any commercially prepared chicken broth that did not have onion in it, and my understanding is that onion is bad for cats. I ended up just diluting her canned food with water until it was the consistency of soup, and I got enough moisture in her to keep her reasonably hydrated.

Hi Rylin,
You are right that onion (and onion powder) are bad for cats and dogs as they can damage red blood cells when ingested in significant enough quantities. Most store bought chicken broths aren’t likely to contain enough onion powder to have a toxic effect, but unfortunately we never know for sure. So your point and question is a good one and we thank you for bringing it up. We have made an amendment to the article which now shares an easy, onion-free homemade chicken broth recipe. Thanks for reading and for sharing your question.
-Stacy

pearl cantlie

I lost my beautiful Smokey-dude 6 wks ago. He was 5 years old; neutered too young and on dried food....i din't know how damaging dried food was then. My daughter saw him straining & took him in. Smokey came home after meds & 'hardened', not full bladder found. Next day, I was back with him; told catheterising might help; told spasms most likely issue. Then a call later that crystals in the urethra & the vet had real difficulty inserting the tube. He was kept in, in the 'kennels' WHY... he needed calm, not 3 big dogs. When he came home, he barely moved, fur in dreadful state; nearly died 10 hours after; never cleaned; drunk or ate. I don't know what I should have done differently? I gave him lots of fluid by syringe with cranberry etc. He died 2 days later. It was like he never came back from the vets. I don't understand why crystals were not broken down by flushing first. He must have been in agony after the procedure. I don't understand why he was left, for 36 hours anaethetised, when crystals & kidney damage confirmed? .

Thank you for sharing your story and experience. We’re sad that you and Smokey had to go through this. We hope that by sharing your story, others will benefit and recognize how serious this condition is. May the pain ease with each passing day. Rest in peace Smokey.

Teresa

I noticed my 1.5 year old male kitty looking like he was trying to poop in my bedroom. I grabbed him and put him in the litter box. He always uses his litter box, so I thought that maybe he was mad for some reason. I saw him doing this again in another part of the house. Each time nothing came out. I decided to call the vet, just in case. The vet recommended I bring him in. Sure enough his bladder was full but luckily he wasn't sick or anything yet. He is having work done as I write this. Not sure what his outcome will be yet. I am praying for the best.

We're all pulling for him (and you). So glad you caught it early and got him in for care! Keep us posted.

Teresa

My kitty's obstruction was cleared out but they had to catherize him again because he wasn't able to pee on his own. After staying at the vet for about 5 days, they wanted to make sure that he can go on his own, he was able to come home and he was doing find. About 3 weeks later it happened again. This time he actually came to me acting in distress. I brought him back to the vet and they had to catherize him again. I was given a special diet for him, Royal Canin SO, and he seems to be doing fine except that he seems to be very skinny. I am worried and wondering if this is going to keep on happening. Also and worried about how skinny he is. Not sure why this is happening now after almost a year and a half. He is a little skittish and we are in the process of remodeling a bathroom. I wonder if that is causing him some stress.

Hi Teresa,
I'm sorry to hear about the hard time your poor kitty has been having. I would definitely give a call to your vet to discuss your concerns about his weight, and be sure to mention the potential causes of stress.
They should be able to tell you whether your cat needs to gain weight and offer good advice on how to do so.
-Stacy

Hi Teresa,
Sorry to hear about your guy’s obstruction episodes, and his lingering problems. Unfortunately stresses, such as home remodels, can definitely contribute to urinary problems in cats, including obstruction. If you haven’t already done so, I would definitely recommend looking into some of the things that can help to reduce stress in cats — including Feliway (diffusers and sprays), adding more litter boxes (especially away from where all the construction commotion is happening), and also speak with your veterinarian about some of the prescription anti-anxiety drugs and the newer supplements that have been shown to reduce stress in cats. The stress of the remodel could also be causing digestive issues, which could be underlying the weight loss — or it could be related to his new diet, how much he is eating, or something else entirely. Again, I’d suggest working closely with your veterinarian on this and keeping close tabs on your kitty man. Best of luck — both with your guy and with your remodel!
Best,
Dr. J

Kim

Noticed my 2-year old male orange tabby was unable to pee and immediately took him to the vet, where they flushed out his bladder with a catheter. He was released same day and given a prescription of steroids. Tonight I catch him in the litter box and he still is unable to pee. I will bring him back to the vet in the morning. I'm very concerned.

It's great that you caught it early and got him to the vet right away. We're hoping for the best for your little guy!
-Stacy

Erin Avery

My cat just survived a urinary blockage and surgery to remove bladder stones. I find out in a few weeks what kind of stones they were. I haven't been able to find much info about potential of reblocking after such a surgery or how long stones generally take to reform? I'm not sure I can afford another $2500 vet bill soon! I am doing all the tips suggested in this article. I think it may have been stress-related since we just moved to a new apartment and my other cat died of cancer three weeks ago. I haven't found many studies online on this subject either. Is there a way to view results of the survey? Thanks!

Hi Erin,
At this time, we haven't quite finalized the results of our survey. Is there a specific question not answered in our articles that we might be able to help you with?
All the best to your cat during recovery!
-Stacy

Erin Avery

Thanks for the response. I guess I have to wait to see what kind of stones they were to know best how to prevent them. I have tried switching to wet food but my cat has refused to eat enough and the vet is now concerned he is losing too much weight and suggest putting him back on dry until results come back. One question I have is: this article recommends flavoring water with tuna but I have read elsewhere that fish should be avoided? Is there any evidence for fish exacerbating this condition?

Thanks for your note and question. It sounds like the primary concern here is the fact that your cat is not eating enough after surgery, which is important. If your cat will only currently eat dry food, then yes by all means feed a dry food — ideally a prescription stone dissolution/prevention diet, as those will also encourage more water consumption. Your veterinarian will know best based on your cat’s current condition. In the long run though, wet food will likely be better, and here are some tips on helping him eat his food (dry or wet): http://www.preventivevet.com/cats/cat-not-eating-tips-and-reasons-why
Regarding tuna (or any kind of fish) and feline lower urinary tract disease and urethral obstruction, that’s more of an old wive’s tale (though there may be an association between fish flavored wet foods and an increased incidence of hyperthyroidism in cats). That said, flavoring your cat’s drinking water with the water from a can of tuna is not a problem and may well help encourage more water consumption and therefore lower risks of feline urinary issues.
Hope this helps and that your kitty feels better real soon.
-Dr. J